
RIPA’s vision for Park-as-Lab is a research collaborative where scientists, environmental advocates, and communities work together on scientific research. Park-as-Lab works to encourage civic engagement, support STEM career paths, and increase our understanding of New York City’s ecosystems, ultimately promoting more resilient communities.
Through promoting opportunities to participate in and increase understanding of scientific research, Park-as-Lab aims to:
- Facilitate applied environmental science and ecology research on Randall’s Island
- Support community needs by promoting public participation in science research from conception to implementation
- Foster partnerships through continued engagement and communication
Click here to view our data and reports.
For more info or to get involved, contact us at [email protected] or (212) 860-1899.
Community Survey
Park -as-Lab is interested in conducting urban ecology for the people, by the people. PAL looks to answer community questions and concerns. We would love to know what you want to learn about your local environment! Please share your thoughts and help us shape future PAL monitoring and research projects.
What does the Park-as-Lab program do?
Urban Ecology Research
Through the Park-as-Lab Program, researchers from high school, college, and graduate to professional levels use Randall’s Island as a site to explore scientific questions related to environmental science and urban ecology. Student researchers, with an adviser from their school, conduct independent research projects or assist with a long-term monitoring project on the Island. Topics range from the impact of water quality on fish community composition to evaluating the ability of plants and soil microbes to remediate soil. RIPA also asks for input from local stakeholders so that research through Park-as-Lab reflects community-identified needs and interests.
Environmental Monitoring & Community Engagement
RIPA works to connect youth and adults to the Island through environmental monitoring. Interested students, individuals, and organizations have opportunities to work with RIPA’s Natural Areas Department and participate in monitoring projects, such as counting and identifying the fish species that live in our waterways and tagging monarch butterflies migrating through New York City. Staff and volunteers collect data to contribute to larger citywide and regional projects that improve our understanding of local ecosystems. Check out RIPA’s website for opportunities to participate in Park-as-Lab events and environmental monitoring activities.
Outreach & Online Resources
RIPA works with partner organizations to ensure that research on Randall’s Island is informed by and benefits the surrounding communities. Data and reports from research and monitoring projects are shared on RIPA’s website. Attend a data interpretation workshop, view our summary reports, or check out lesson plans to learn about how you can use data available on our website and what they mean to you.
Data Repository
- All
- Birds
- Fish
- Insects
- Vegetation
- Water Quality
- Wildlife